At
a lying-in-state held at the Government House, Asaba, tagged, ‘Day of a
tribute’ organised by the state government in Asaba, the state capital,
Governor Okowa announced the naming of the state Secretariat Complex after the
late Ibru, who was also a one-time senator.

The
late Ibru will be finally lay to rest today (Wednesday) at his Agbarha-Otor
country home in Ughelli North Council Area of the state.

A
funeral service will be held in his honour at the All Saints Cathedral,
Anglican Communion, Ughelli, before his body will be interred at his hometown,
Agbarha – Otor.

Ibru,
who died on March 12, 2016, was the civilian governor of Delta State between
January 1992 and November 1993, when the state was carved out of the old Bendel
State in 1991.

He
was also a senator between 2003 and 2007, where he represented Delta Central
Senatorial District and a former President-General of the foremost Urhobo apex
socio-cultural umbrella, the Urhobo Progress Union.

Speaking
at the ceremony, Okowa said an ongoing Senate Building at the Delta State
University, Abraka, which was started by the administration of Dr. Emmanuel
Uduaghan, will also be named after him when completed as a mark of honour for
the former governor.

Also,
flags are to be flown at half-mast at all public buildings and institutions in
the state, commencing from Tuesday (yesterday) until the completion of the
funeral rites.

Okowa
said, “The people that currently make up Delta North – Ika, Oshimili, Aniocha
and Ndokwa – had agitated for their own state to be called Anioma. But in a
deft move of political compromise and appeasement, the Babangida administration
did not create Anioma State but included the people of Anioma in the new Delta
State and made Asaba, the capital.

Okowa
added, “It was in this tense political atmosphere that Ibru assumed leadership
of the state. It fell on him to douse the tension and mutual distrust that
threatened the successful take-off of the new state.

“It
was his noble disposition, steely resolved and unrivalled commitment to fuse
the different ethnic groups into a unified and coherent entity that undoubtedly
laid the foundation for the growth and development of Delta State.

The
Senate President whose tribute was read by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, on his
part, described his former colleague as a true Nigerian whom action and words
exemplified his love for the country.

While
consoling the bereaved family, Saraki added that late Ibru lived a fulfilled
life.

Also,
immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan said late Ibru was
a bridge builder and a good political lobbyist.